International Fairtrade Week kicks off in Newcastle

Dear friends

International Fairtrade Week will be launched at 10am on Saturday 9 May 2009 in Newcastle with free organic fair trade coffee and chocolate cake at Hunter Organic Foods in Merewether.

Fair Trade started with trade in coffee in the fifties with the specific aim of helping marginalised producers and workers move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency.

In 2007, the Fairtrade system benefited 7.5 million people including pproximately 1.5 million workers and farmers in 58 developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The Hunter Organic Food event will showcase numerous Fairtrade products including:
* East Timor hand woven cloth, produced by a women's co-operative in Hato Builico

* East Timorese coffee, roasted by a Hunter-based company River Roast crafted coffee

* Cocolo chocolate, made in Switzerland from the finest Organic and Fairtrade ingredients sourced around the world

* Bang bags, sustainable fair trade eco bags made in Bangladesh using renewable resources

* Etiko sports balls, hand sewn in Pakistan from natural rubber

“Hunter Organic Food has been stocking Fairtrade products since it began more than 10 years ago”, said Mr Phil Maher, manager of Hunter Organic Foods.

“Buying Fairtrade products is a practical and effective way to
support local communities in developing countries to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Unlike direct charity, buying Fairtrade products helps create jobs and income for disadvantaged families.

“To kick off the local soccer, netball and football seasons, we will be launching Fairtrade sports ball range that, unlike most sports balls in the market, does not involve child labour and worker exploitation in their manufacture,” Mr Maher said.

Mr Maher will be donating 10% of all sales on Saturday to the Hato Builico women's co-operative that is producing the East Timor hand-woven cloth.

For more information or comment, contact Mr Phil Maher on 0425 374 774.

See you all there!

Alison Cleary

Climate Action Newcastle